Can-filling apparatus.



H. P. WELLMAN.

CAN FILLING APPARATUS. APPL|CATION.FILED OCT-20.19l5.

Patented Mar. 13, 1917.

, s suzn's-sussr 1.

WITNESSES:

m: uonms rm" m. Puma-ma. usumcmu. o.

H. P. WELLMAN.

CAN FILLING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED 001'. 20. m5.

Patentd Mar. 13, 1917.

III" xw INVENTOR H, P. WELLMAN.

CAN FILLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 20. I915.

Patented Mai. 13, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I II; it 5 I II id INVENTOR.

mr noun: Inn's m. rnamunm. llunmcmu. n c.

H. P. WELLMAN.

CAN FILLING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED 00120. 1915.

Patented Mar. 13, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

wmmzssms: I INVENTQR f i\\\ Hang fhllmm I of. I m/hi1? 1m: new": rnzns co. lnannrnm. \vAsunya mu. 0. c.

H. P. WELLMAN. CAN FILLING APPARATUS 'AQPPLICATIQNIFILED OCT. 20, l9l5 Patentedmanlawn;

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

LO-00233 DH-0 04- 6 9 (TA-02566 WITNESSES: IN VENTOR A'l'ronu EYS mr nmwms PETERS ca. rnnmurum. vusumnmw. n c.

nnirn ram HARVEY P. WELLMAN', OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

CAN-FILLING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 13, 1917.

Application filed October 20, 1915. Scria1 No. 58,863.

7 State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Can-Filling Apparatus, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to a can filling apparatus, and has for its object to provide an effective and simple mechanism which will prevent inadvertent filling of containers from the wrong supply conduits where a number of such are embodied in a filling device,and also indicate the number of cans filled and the nature of their contents.

The machine is the outcome of an effort to get an accurate record from day to day of the quantities packed to date of the vari V ous kinds of goods, and to prevent, as far as possible, mistakes in syruping and filling cans.

It records on a paper tape the accumulative total and grade each time the grade is changed, as determined by the change in faucets controlling the syrup or other liquids that may be used in making up contents. This feature is unfailing and unless the man operating the faucets sets the can mark wheels of the counter in accord, a

signal bell will ring until he corrects his mistakes. In other words, the machine counts and segregates the goods according to the liquid contents and not according to marks placed on the outside of the can.

The cans are counted in the warehouse according to the grade marks on the cans and a daily comparison is made with the quantity of respective liquids used. The differences show distinctly the mistakes in applying labels. Since all goods are stacked according to the grade until counted, it also enables the operator to discover errors in stacking which might result in wrong labeling.

In the practical embodiment of this machine, as used in syruping fruit, I employ, in combination, a filling device embodying a plurality of separate supply conduits; delivery mechanism for feeding cans thereto, means for controlling the supply conduits;

an alarm device in connection with each of said supply conduits, actuated by the opening of the controlling means therefor; a setting device adjustable to discontinue any one of said alarms, whereby to permit a particular supply conduit to beemployed for filling the cans without sounding the alarm; a grade register movable with said setting device for designating the class or grade of goods being supplied to the cans; a counting device operable by said delivery mechanism for registering the number of cans filled; a locking means for said setting device; and a recording attachment for said grade register and counting device, operable by the release of said locking means, to imprint the number of cans filled from any one of the conduits and the nature of the goods contained therein prior to resetting the apparatus.

Manifestly, the form, arrangement and sequence and number of the above specified elements and parts may vary with differing conditions and without departing from the principle of the invention.

WVhile the apparatus hereinafter described is shown particularly with reference to the fruit canning industry wherein it has been used with marked success, it is manifest that the invention is readily applicable to the counting and classifying of all sorts of packages and commodities, paper packages as wcll as tins, and seeds and'powdered material as well as liquid, in fact, anything that'will fiow.

One form which my invention may assume is exemplified in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows a side elevation of the apparatus.

Fig. 2 shows a detailed View of the indieating and computing wheels.

Fig. 3 shows a diagrammatic representation of the alarm system.v

Fig. 4 .shows an enlarged detailed View of a portion of the device illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 shows an enlarged view of the set ting disk.

6 a detailed, horizontal sectional view, taken on the line of 66 of Fig. 5, and illustrating the switch operating parts.

Fig. 7 shows a vertical, transverse sectional view, taken on the line 77 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 shows a similar view taken on the line 88 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 shows an edge view of the character wheels used for indicating the class or nature of the goods.

Fig. 10 shows a detailed view of the same wheels with the locking means applied thereto.

Fig. 11 shows a transverse sectional view, taken on the line 1l11 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 12 shows the same parts illustrated in Fig. 11, viewed from the opposite end, and

Fig. 13 shows a detailed view of the rec'- ord slip.

Referring in detail to the form of my invention illustrated herewith, it will be seen that the apparatus comprises a can delivery device, in the form of a power operated star wheel 11 carried on a vertical shaft 15 mounted on a frame 16. Adjacent the can delivery device is a filling device 17, communicating with which are a plurality of separate supply conduits 18, each controlled by a cock 19.

An electric alarm device, controlled by the cocks 19, is shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and comprises bell, or other sounder 20, and a source of current supply 21, both connected in parallel with the terminals 22 of a leaf spring switch 23, arranged one adjacent each of the cocks 19, and operated by a cam disk 21 connected. by a simple link 25 to the handle of the adjacent, cock in such a way that when the cock is opened in either direction the switch will be closed.

In electrical connection with the alarm is a setting device comprising a perforated disk 26, provided with a plurality of ad justable contact devices 27, removably fitted into the perforations therein, and adapted to engage with a plurality of spring switches 28 to open the same. The number of these springs 28 correspond to the number of supply conduits, and the terminals 29 thereof are connected in parallel with the switch terminals through the bell and battery circuits. The perforated disk 26 is connected by me as of spindles 30 with one of a pair of pin-tooth wheels 31 and 32 lying close to each other but fixed one upon a shaft 33 and the other upon a sleeve encircling said shaft and supported in bearing standards carried on the frame 16. The wheels 31 and 32, and consequently the disk 26, are normally locked against rotation by a pawl 37, best shown in Fig. 8, coacting with the pin-teeth 38 of said wheels, which are directed toward each other and but slightly reference to Fig. 9, including all of the letters of the alphabet and the digits from one to zero. One of the characters of each of the wheels is adapted to be xposed at one time, through openings a1 formed in casing or shield e2 which overlies'the front half of the wheels. For turning said wheels upon their bearings I provide each at its outer face with hand grips l3, and by manipulation thereof the wheels may be moved to expose any desired combination of characters at the openings 41. The indicator wheels 31 and 32, being independently movable, the combinations of characters exposed will obviously be equal to the square of 36, or 1296. In order that the two wheels shall not be moved together 1 provide a friction roller l l, as shown in Fig. 10, engaging with the teeth thereon of both'wheels, and yield ingly held in contact therewith by means of a torsion spring 45.

The disk 26 has plurality of circumferential rows of perforations 36, six in this instance, to correspond with the number of switches 28. In each row there are 36 open ings corresponding with the characters on the v. neels 31 and 32, so that no matter what mark is exposed at the openings e1 in the casing 4:211 switch spring 28 may be engaged by a contact device 27 to break the alarm circuit.

At the outer ends of the shaft-33 and sleeve 34L are fixed pair of registering disks l6 and a7, respectively. Each of said disks is provided on its periphery with letters and numerals corresponding to those on the indi cater wheels 31 and 32, and together comprise the grade or class register.

Loose upon th shaft 33 are a series of count wheels 48 adjacent to said registering disks, the unit wheel of which isprovided with 20 teeth 49 engaged by pinion 50 lying below and upon a shaft 51 actuated through a universal coupling 52 and gear connection with the can feeding shaft 15', and so timed as to move the unit wheel two teeth, which are equivalent to one numeral "slotted portion is provided with an adjustable trip bolt 68, and the yoke is held yieldingly in position against pivotal movement on the crank arm 63 by means of a contractile coil spring 69. The slot 61 in said yoke strap is provided with a shoulder 70 at its inner end, against which the pin 60 on the rock arm normally rests. Upon actuation of the rock shaft 64 the yoke 62 is drawn rearwardly carrying the rock arm 59 and impression roller 56 until the latter has engaged the periphery of the wheels of the counter and grade registers, at which time the trip bolt 68 will have struck a stationary abutment 71, thereby lifting the vyoke strap so as to disengage the shoulder 70 from the pin 60, whereupon a torsion spring 72, connected with the rock arm 59, throws the latter forwardly as far as the slot 61 will permit, thereby disengaging the impression roller 56 from the counter and grade register.

Bearing supports 73 formed upon the standards 35, adjacent the counter and grade register, in vertical alinement, carry ribbon rolls 74 positioned so that a web of inking ribbon lies adjacent the periphery of the counter and grade register wheels. The im pression roller 56 carries upon its periphery a strip of printing paper and when moved against said registering devices an impression is made by the exposed characters on the wheels of said counter and graderegister, which, through the agency of the inking ribbon, prints the marks upon the paper. The roller 56 is turned at each actuation by means of a ratchet and pawl mechanism 75 to feed the paper, and a pawl and rachet connection 76 between one of the supporting arms 57 and adjacent ribbon roller 7 4 turns the inking ribbon.

The rock shaft 641 as shown in Fig. 7 has a crank arm 77 fixed to its front end adjacent the setting disk 26, and connecting said crank arm to an intermediate portion of the lever 39 is a pivoted link 7 8. Therefore, when the said lever is moved downwardly to release the locking pawl thereon, for the purpose of resetting the disk 26 and character wheels 31 and 32, the rock shaft 66 is turned to move the impression roller 56 into position for recording upon the paper the characters exposed on the counter and grade register wheels. A contractile spring 79 connected to the link 78 and to the adjacent standards 35 maintains the lever and rock shaft in normal position with the locking pawl engaged with the pin-teeth on the wheels 31 and 32, and the impression roller 56 spaced away from the count and grade Wheels. 1

In the operation of the device just described cans are conveyed to the filling clevice by means of the star wheel 14. The indicator wheels 31 and 32 are first set .to expose an arbitrary symbol, such, for instance, as A. (l, which may be taken to in-' dicate a selected grade or class of goods being supplied by conduit E for instance, the said supply conduits 18, as shown in Fig. 1, being each provided with a distinguishing character, such as A, B, C, D, E, the particular contact device 27, included in the alarm circuit ofwhich the cock 19 of conduit E forms a part, is positioned in one of the openings 36 in the same plane with the particular character desired to be exposed on the indicator wheel 31, by reason of which it will engage with the switch spring 28.included in the alarm circuit of conduit E, and hold said switch open. In this position the indicator wheels and setting disk are locked by means of the pawl 37. Thus, only the alarm circuit of which supply conduit E forms a part is out of commission, and if any other of the cooks 19 in the conduits A, B, C, etc., be actuated, the alarm circuit in connection therewith will be closed by the switch springs 23, thereby causing the alarm to be sounded, which will warn the operator of his mistake.

etc. v Thenv By setting the indicator wheels 31. and 32 r is desired to fill from another one of the a supply conduits the operator must first move the lever 39 to release the locking pawl be fore the disk 26 can be reset to disconnect the proper alarm circuit. By so moving the lever 39 the impression roller actuated thereby will engage the. counter and grade register and cause to be impressed upon the paper a record of the number of cans pre-' viously filled and the symbols representing the class or grade of goods contained in said cans. The printed slip will, in the present device, exhibit a record similar to that shown in Fig. 13, wherein the first two characters indicate the grade or class of goods and the figures opposite show the quantity of cans containing such goods. By clearing the count wheels at each re-setting the number of cans of a particular grade of goods only will be shown, or by leaving thewheels uncleared the total run for all classes of goods will be shown by the final record, and the number of cans of each grade may readily be obtained by subtracting.

IVheels 31 and 32 being turnable separately, the number of combinations symbols obtainable therefrom is 1296, and this may be increased, ofcourse, by adding other similar wheels. Only one of said wheels should be connected with the setting disk 26, the connected wheel in the present device being that indicated by the numeral 31. Ob viously any number of supply conduits may be utilized and spaces provided therefor on the perforated setting disk 26. The releas ing lever 39 may be held down as long as desired to permit of resetting of the indicator wheels and perforated disk, but the impression roller immediately flies away from the counter and grade register, on account of the automatic disconnection effected by he pin and slot arrangement 60 and 61, and trip device 68.

A feature of particular importance in connection with this mechanism is the alarm device, whereby the operator is warned of an erroneous manipulation of the supply cocks. In practice, where a plurality of supply conduits are embodied in a single filling device it is the custom to run different grades of goods of the same general character from each. Assuming that peaches are being filled, then the grades of syrup supplied by the conduits will vary in quality. Cans are being run through the filling device, labeled First quality, and being filled, say, from spout A, but the operator, through carelessness, uses conduit D, which supplies an inferior grade of syrup. In ordinary practice there is no method of detectingthe error after the cans are. sealed, and in many instances the goods go ont misbranded, and a test of a few samples of a large lot, may, curiously, fall to the misbranded cans, with the result that the entire lot is rejected. In my apparatus the possibility f an error of this nature being unsuspecte .ly committed is overcome, and an accurate record of-the number of cans of goods filled and the nature of their contents is furnished, inasmuch as a change in the setting of the device to permit a different conduit to be operated can only be made after the setting disk and indicating wheels have been released, which releasing automatically causes a record to be made of the former run.

It is obvious that many changes in the construction and arrangement of the several parts of my apparatus may be employed Without departing from the spirit of my invention as disclosed in the appended claims.

with each of the supply conduits actuated by the contr lling means therefor, a setting device adjustable to discontinue any one said alarms whereby to permit a particular supply conduit to be employed for filling cans without actuating the alarm, a grade register controlled by said setting device.

for designating the particular supply conduit in use, counter operable by said can delivery mechanism for registering the number of cans filled, locking means for said setting device, and a recording attachment for said counter and grade register operable by the release of said locking means to record the number of cans filled from any one of the conduits and the nature of the goods contained therein, prior to a re-setting of the device.

2. In a can filling apparatus, the combination with a filling device embodying a plurality of separate supply conduits, delivery mechanism for feeding cans thereto, and means for controlling each of said supply conduits, of an alarm device in connection with each of the supply conduits actuated by the controlling means therefor, a setting device adjustable to discontinue any one of said alarms whereby to permit a particular supply conduit to be employed for filling cans without actuating the alarm, a grade register controlled by said setting device for designating the particular supply conduit in use, and a counter operable by said can delivery mechanism for registering the number of cans filled.

3. In a can filling apparatus, the combination with a filling device embodying a plurality of separate supply conduits, delivery mechanism for feeding cans thereto, and means for controlling each of said supply conduits, of an alarm device in connection with each of the supply conduits actuated by the controlling means therefor, a setting device adjustable to discontinue any one of said alarms whereby to permit a particular supply conduit to be employed for filling cans without actuating the alarm, a grade I register controlled by'said setting device for designating the particular supply conduit in use, locking means for said setting device, and a recording attachment for said register operable by the release of said locking means, to record the nature of the goods contained in the cans filled from any one of the conduits, prior to a resetting of the device.

4. In a can filling apparatus, the combination with a filling device embodying a plurality of separate supply conduits, delivery mechanism for feeding cans thereto, and means for controlling each of said supply conduits, of an alarm device in connection with each of the supply coud uits actuated by the controlling means therefor, a setting device adjustable to discontinue any one of said alarms whereby to permit a particular supply conduit to be employed for filling cans without actuating the alarm, a counter operable by said can delivery mechanism for registering the number of cans filled, looking means for said setting device, and a recording attachment for said counter operable by the release of said locking means to record the number of cans filled from any one of the conduits, prior to a resetting of the device.

5. In a can filling apparatus, the combination with a filling device embodying a plurality of separate supply conduits, delivery mechanism for feeding cans thereto, and means for controlling each of said supply conduits, of a grade register for designating the particular supply conduit in use, a counter operable by said can delivery mechanism for registering the number of cans filled, and a recording attachment for said counter and grade register, to record the number of cans filled from any one of the supply conduits and the character ofthe goods contained therein.

6. In a can filling apparatus, the combination with a filling device embodying a plurality of separate supply conduits, whereby material of different grades may be supplied, of means to permit a particular conduit to be used independently of the other conduit, and means for recording the grade taken from the conduit last used as a condition precedent to the use of another conduit.

7. In a can filling apparatus, the combination with a filling device embodying a plurality of separate supply conduits, of means for permitting a particular supply conduit to be used, independently of'the 5 other conduit, and a warning device operplurality of separate supply conduits, of

means to indicate the grade of goods furnished by any one of said supply conduits, warning means to indicate the use of any of the other supply conduits, and means for resetting said indicating and warning means to permit the use of any one of the remaining conduits without sounding the warning means therefor.

9. In a can filling apparatus, the combination with a filling device embodying a plurality of separate supply conduits, of means to indicate the grade of goods furnished by any one of said supply conduits, warning means to indicate the use of any of the other supply conduits, means for resetting said indicating and warning means to permit the use of any one of the remaining conduits without sounding the warning means therefor, and means operable bythe resetting of the device to record the grade of goods indicated.

10. In a can filling apparatus, the combination with a filling device embodying a plurality of separate supply conduits, and a delivery mechanism for feeding cans thereto, ofa registering means to indicate the grade of goods furnished by any one of said supply conduits, warning means to indicate the use of any of the other supply conduits, a counting device operable by said delivery mechanism for registering the number of cans filled, means for resetting the registering and warning devices to permit the use of any of the remaining conduits without sounding the warning means, and means operable by the resetting of the device to record the number of cans filled and the grade of the goods therein.

11. In. a can filling apparatus, the combination with a filling device embodying a plurality of separate supply conduits, of registering means comprising a plurality of movable character wheels adjustable to different combinations for the purpose of indicating by symbol the nature of the goods being supplied by any one of said conduits, means for locking said wheels in fixed position, and a recording attachment operable by the release of said locking means to imprint the symbol upon a tab.

12. In a can filling apparatus, the combination with a filling device embodying a plurality of separate supply conduits, of registering means comprising a plurality of movable character wheels adjustable to different combination for the purpose of indicating by symbol the nature of the goods being supplied by any one of said conduits, means for locking said wheels in fixed position, a recording attachment operable by the release of said locking means to imprint the symbol upon a tab, and an alarm device cooperating with said registering means for giving warning of an erroneous operation of the supply conduits.

13. In a can filling apparatus, the combination with a filling device embodying a plurality of separate supply conduits, of means for controlling each of said conduits, and an alarm device operated by each of said controlling means and adjustable to permit the use otany one of said conduits at a time without a warning.

1%. In a-"can filling apparatus, the combination with a filling device having a plurality of separate supply conduits, and a valve for controlling each of said conduits, of an electric alarm circuit in connection with cachet said valves operated by the opening thereof, and an adjustable setting means for discontinuing any one of said alarm circuits to permit the operation of a particular supply conduit without sounding an alarm.

15. Ina can filling apparatus, the combination with a filling device having plurality of separate supply conduits and a valve for controlling each of said conduits, of an electric alarm circuit in connection with each of said valves operated by the opening thereof, an adjustable setting means for discontinuing any one of said alarm circuits to permit the eperation of a particular supply conduit without sounding an alarm, and means movable with said setting means'to register by symbol the particular grade of goods being supplied by the particular conduit in operation. 5

16. In a can filling apparatus, the combination with filling device having a plurality f separate supply conduits, and

i valve lor controlling each of said conduits,

of an electric alarm circuit in connection with each of said valves operated by the opening thereof, a rotatable disk carrying adjustable devices for disconnecting permanently any one of said alarm circuits, whereby to permitoi the use of a particular supply conduit without sounding a. Warning, and independently adjustable character wheels movable one with said disk to register by symbol the particular grade of goods being supplied by the particular conduit' in operation. 7

17. In a can filling apparatus, the combination with a filling device having a plurality of separate supply conduits, and a valve for' controlling each of said conduits, of an electric alarm circuit in connection with each of said valves operated by the opening thereof, a switch for each of said alarm circuits, a rctatable setting device carrying a pluralitv f adjustable contact devices engageable with said switches to permanently discontinue any one of said alarm circuits, whereby to permit theuse of particular supply conduit v vithout sounding the alarm, adjustable character Wheels movable with said setting means for indicating the particular discharge conduit in use, means for locking said setting device in adjusted position, and

a recording attachment operable by the re-' leasing of said locking means to print the characters exposed by said Wheels on atab, prior to resetting o1 the'device.

18. I11 a can filling apparatus, the combination with a fillin-gdevice having a plurality of separate supply conduits, delivery mechanism for feeding cans thereto, and a valve for controlling each of said conduits, of an electric alarm circuit in connection with each of said valves operated by the cpening thereof, a switch for each of said alarm circuits, arotatable jsettingdevice carrying a plurality of adjustable contact devices engageable with said switches to permanently discontinue any one of said alarm circuits, whereby to permit the use of a particular supply conduit without sounding the" alarm, adjustable character wheels movable with setting device for indicating by symbol the discharge conduit in use, a countingdevice operable by said feeding mechanism to register the number of cans filled, means for locking said setting device in adjusted position,;and a recording attachment operable by the release of said locking means to print the number of cans filled and the grade of goods contained thereimpricr to resetting of the device.

19'. In a. can filling apparatus, the combination with a filling device embodying a plurality of separate supply conduits, of a warning device to indicate the operation of said conduits, a setting device adjustable to permit the free use of any of said conduits without warning, a grade register connected withsaid setting device to indicate by a symbol the particular conduit in use, a locking device for said setting device and grade rcgister, a recording attachment movable by the release of said locking device into' engagement with said register to print the exposed symbols thereon upon a tab, and an automatic disconnection means between said locking device and recording attachment whereby the latter moves out of printing engagement with the register independent of the locking device.

20. In can filling apparatus, the combination with a filling device embodying a plurality of separate supply conduits, of a grade register to indicate by a symbol the particular conduit in use, a locking device for said register, means for releasing said locking device, recording attachment movable with said releasing'means to engage with said register and imprint the exposed symbols thereon upon a. tab, and an automatic disconnecting device between fsaid' releasing device and recording attachment whereby the latter is free to move out of engagement with the register independent of the releasing device.

21. In a device of the character named; the combination with a filling device embodying a plurality of separate supply conduits, each adapted to deliver a different grade oi goods, of means for detectin the erroneous operation of any of the conduits, other than the conduit in use.

22. A device of the character named, the combination with a plurality of separate supply conduits, each adapted to deliver a different grade of goods, of an alarm device in conjunction with each conduit, and means by which the alarm device for a particular pie-determined or authorized conduit is left out, lea 'ing the other alarm devices in position to be operated in case an authorized change is made from the predetermined grade.

A device of the character named, comprising, in combination with a filling device adapted to supply different grades of goods,

adjustable means to indicate the particulargrade of goods to be supplied by the filling device at a setting, and means for recording the grade of goods supplied prior to a resetting of the device.

24. A device of the character named,-com- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents prising, in combination with a filling device embodying separate supply conduits, each adapted to deliver a different grade of goods, adjustable means to indicate the grade of goods delivered by a particular conduit at a setting, and means for recording the grade of goods supplied by the conduit in use prior to a resetting of the device.

25. In adevice of the character named, the combination with a filling device adapted to supply different grades 01 goods, and manual means for controlling the operation of said filling device to deliver any particular grade of goods desired, of a means for indicating the inadvertent actuation of said controlling means, whereby the delivery of any grade of goods other than that desired, is prevented.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

HARVEY P. WELLMAN. Witnesses JOHN H. HERRING, W. W. HEALEY.

Washington, D. G. 

